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After my jet setting exploits at the last game, you must have seen it, everyone's talking about it, you know.........

Well it was back down to earth with a bump on Monday morning and a hard day's graft had to be put in to earn my corn to continue my little luxuries in life like watching Leicester City play football.

At the end of the day I dragged myself home, I could hardly put one foot in front of the other, but I made it through the storm and got back into my cosy little house where I enjoyed a little drink and a chicken casserole after watching The Weakest Link of course. Does Ann Robinson do anything for you?

So I wandered round the house already thinking of this coming Saturday when we play against Charlton Athletic at Filbert Street, and I thought I'd just check on the whereabouts of my season ticket. I opened the drawer where it lives when it's not with me at a match and there in the drawer, on it's own in the drawer, in glorious blue were the battered, crumpled and curled up remains of my favourite possession.

'Oh yes.' replied my wife 'I was going to tell you about that, I thought it might have straightened out by now. You shouldn't leave it in your pocket. It's been through the washing machine.

I thought I took it quite well really in the circumstances..........but it could be 'Grounds for Divorce.'

How I'm going to get into the match with a U shaped swipe card I don't know..........if there's no match report you'll know I didn't make it.

Anyway, life must go on, and I must keep a stiff upper lip and soldier on, but just think while I was communicating with thousands of City fans on the TV my season ticket lay like a pathetic crumpled plastic............ thing. No wonder we lost.

So Charlton at home, sounds easy enough, except they are proving to be a tough nut and already this season have given several big clubs including Man Utd a severe tousling and so we must beware and perform at our most potent or we'll be beaten for sure.

They may have won the hearts of many football fans with their hapless but gutsy performance in the 1998 - 99 Premiership season but the fact remains they went down and so it counted for naff all.

This season though they have bounced straight back from Div 1 and have re-emerged in the top flight a much meaner machine than the one that blew up last time around. They are a stronger outfit now - of that there is no doubt.

Last season they were all but promoted after only 26 games and from early December to mid March they never lost a game and in fact won 12 games on the spin, quite a record and an experience that has given them a huge inner strength.

This is going to be a vital game for us. We've made a fantastic start but we now need to re-group and bounce back from another disappointment and it will take a lot of character to do so. We are hovering in the transfer market but this time we're buying and the Hyenas out there will not be stripping us of our assets. Don't forget we still need our 42 points to make us safe from relegation before we can start thinking about winning things or qualifying for anything.

Royce: He did very well in the shot stopping department but he wasn't happy to come out for crosses. His distribution has improved enormously.

Rowett: He did OK, but I prefer to see him as full back in a back four rather than a back three.

Elliott: He battled well and did his stuff but was unlucky when in goal scoring positions, he looked the player most likely to score for us.

Davidson: Played well tried hard but it just didn't happen for him going forward which was symptomatic of the day.

Izzett: Excused boots, he'd been up all week giving birth, how many women would fancy a game of football after such an ordeal?

Savage: I felt desperately sorry for him, he seemed to miss 'Ginger' more than anyone and ran around frantically trying to energise his team and grind down the sky blues, but he lacked support and some guile too. Frantic running won't solve our midfield problems.

Akinbiyi: Spent the first half looking isolated, spent the second half unwisely.

The team lacked, shape, never cut through the defence and floundered on the ploughed field type surface.


Gilbert the Filbert: Match Preview. City v Charlton Athletic 16.12.00
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Grounds for Divorce: Peter Gilbert 13.12.00 After my jet setting exploits at the last game, you must have seen it, everyone's talking about it, you know......... Well it was back down to earth with a bump on Monday morning and a hard day's graft had to be put in to earn my corn to continue my little luxuries in life like watching Leicester City play football. At the end of the day I dragged myself home, I could hardly put one foot in front of the other, but I made it through the storm and got back into my cosy little house where I enjoyed a little drink and a chicken casserole after watching The Weakest Link of course. Does Ann Robinson do anything for you? So I wandered round the house already thinking of this coming Saturday when we play against Charlton Athletic at Filbert Street, and I thought I'd just check on the whereabouts of my season ticket. I opened the drawer where it lives when it's not with me at a match and there in the drawer, on it's own in the drawer, in glorious blue were the battered, crumpled and curled up remains of my favourite possession. 'What's this? What's happened to my season ticket?' 'Oh yes.' replied my wife 'I was going to tell you about that, I thought it might have straightened out by now. You shouldn't leave it in your pocket. It's been through the washing machine. I thought I took it quite well really in the circumstances..........but it could be 'Grounds for Divorce.' How I'm going to get into the match with a U shaped swipe card I don't know..........if there's no match report you'll know I didn't make it. Anyway, life must go on, and I must keep a stiff upper lip and soldier on, but just think while I was communicating with thousands of City fans on the TV my season ticket lay like a pathetic crumpled plastic............ thing. No wonder we lost. So Charlton at home, sounds easy enough, except they are proving to be a tough nut and already this season have given several big clubs including Man Utd a severe tousling and so we must beware and perform at our most potent or we'll be beaten for sure. They may have won the hearts of many football fans with their hapless but gutsy performance in the 1998 - 99 Premiership season but the fact remains they went down and so it counted for naff all. This season though they have bounced straight back from Div 1 and have re-emerged in the top flight a much meaner machine than the one that blew up last time around. They are a stronger outfit now - of that there is no doubt. Last season they were all but promoted after only 26 games and from early December to mid March they never lost a game and in fact won 12 games on the spin, quite a record and an experience that has given them a huge inner strength. This is going to be a vital game for us. We've made a fantastic start but we now need to re-group and bounce back from another disappointment and it will take a lot of character to do so. We are hovering in the transfer market but this time we're buying and the Hyenas out there will not be stripping us of our assets. Don't forget we still need our 42 points to make us safe from relegation before we can start thinking about winning things or qualifying for anything. Last Match Player Analysis Royce: He did very well in the shot stopping department but he wasn't happy to come out for crosses. His distribution has improved enormously. Rowett: He did OK, but I prefer to see him as full back in a back four rather than a back three. Elliott: He battled well and did his stuff but was unlucky when in goal scoring positions, he looked the player most likely to score for us. Gilchrist: Battled hard put in vital tackles on the edge of the box. Davidson: Played well tried hard but it just didn't happen for him going forward which was symptomatic of the day. Sinclair: As above. Eadie: Wil'o' the whisp like but never threatened to carve the elephant open. Izzett: Excused boots, he'd been up all week giving birth, how many women would fancy a game of football after such an ordeal? Savage: I felt desperately sorry for him, he seemed to miss 'Ginger' more than anyone and ran around frantically trying to energise his team and grind down the sky blues, but he lacked support and some guile too. Frantic running won't solve our midfield problems. Oakes: A big day for him, but he fell short, and looked inadequate at times. Akinbiyi: Spent the first half looking isolated, spent the second half unwisely. Subs: Benjamin: Disappointing. Guppy: As above. Impey: He's never impressed me. The team lacked, shape, never cut through the defence and floundered on the ploughed field type surface. Against Charlton we must strike early and decisively. Copyright.